Courses Taught

Incident Investigation/Analysis (IIA)

Patrick Hempen

Biography

Pat Hempen is an expert in commercial and military aviation, security, counterterrorism, and accident investigation. He recently retired from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as Director of AVP-100, the FAA’s national Accident Investigation “Go-Team,” whose mission is to make air travel safer through investigation, analysis, and information sharing. The Office of Accident Investigation is the FAA’s principal organization for aircraft accident investigation and for ensuring the agency’s Continued Operational Safety mission. Prior to this role, he served as the FAA’s liaison to the Department of Homeland Security.

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Patrick served as a military pilot for 31 years on both active and reserve duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, Army, and Air Force. Concurrently, his federal civilian service began as an FAA Air Traffic Controller at the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZMA). He later served as a special agent in the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Service counterterrorism branch, the Diplomatic Security Service, with assignments in Beirut and throughout the Middle East.

He rejoined the FAA as a Federal Air Marshal and Special Agent, then joined Flight Standards as an inspector pilot in 1995. Mr. Hempen rose through the ranks to become an International Manager, maintaining an FAA office in Saudi Arabia, and also served as a line captain for Saudia Airlines. He has traveled to more than 90 countries on behalf of the U.S. federal government.

Holding a current TS/SCI clearance and a Class II FAA medical certificate, Pat Hempen remains an active pilot. He holds Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) ratings on the B-707, B-737, B-747, B-747-400, B-777, DC-9, BAC One-Eleven, and C-123 aircraft. He is also a certified flight instructor (CFI), instrument instructor (CFII), and multi-engine instructor (MEI). Additional FAA certifications include Dispatcher, Control Tower Operator, Flight Engineer, Parachute Rigger, and Commercial and Instrument Helicopter Pilot.